Rafael Mateo

Threatened avian scavengers can become highly exposed to pharmaceuticals when they feed on carcasses of medicated livestock. In this study, we assess the use of regurgitated pellets as a potential noninvasive method to monitor vulture exposure to pharmaceuticals. We analyzed pellets (n = 292) from Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) for 48 compounds commonly used in veterinary medicine in Spain as well as their persistence in such a matrix for up to one month in quasi-natural conditions. Samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). We observed a high stability of most of the pharmaceuticals in the pellets. We detected veterinary pharmaceuticals in 44.2% of pellets, specifically 43.5% with antibiotics and 2% with NSAIDs (1.4% with both). Pellets containing only domestic livestock remains showed pharmaceuticals more frequently (48.2%, 91/189) than those containing wild ungulate remains (20.0%, 5/25). Pig was the main prey and remained associated with the presence of pharmaceuticals in pellets. The pellet monitoring of a supplementary feeding station supplied by a single farm revealed a temporal shift in the use of specific antibiotics. We highlight that the disposal of livestock carcasses to feed scavengers must be closely controlled because of potential risks posed by veterinary pharmaceutical residues, notably NSAIDs.

Rice fields are multifunctional agroecosystems that combine food production with significant biodiversity values, particularly for aquatic and farmland birds. However, intensive management practices, including pesticide use, may compromise their capacity to deliver both agricultural and ecological benefits. In this study, we assessed the effects of multiple environmental and agronomic factors—especially pesticide use—on two key ecosystem services: rice production and habitat provision for avian communities.,A marked productivity gap was found between organic and conventional rice fields, with organic yields averaging 65% lower. In contrast, pesticide use in conventional fields showed high variability, ranging from three to thirteen active substances per field, while yield variability remained low (coefficient of variation = 8.9). This suggests considerable potential to reduce pesticide inputs without substantially affecting production. Overall bird biodiversity did not differ markedly between management types, except for higher swallow densities in organic fields.,Among individual practices, the use of chemically treated seeds—a widespread prophylactic measure—had some of the strongest negative effects on birds. Bird community composition also differed between systems: organic fields were less suitable for species nesting within fields, likely due to later flooding and sowing dates, indicating that organic management alone does not benefit all species.,Overall, our findings suggest that the coexistence of organic and conventional rice farming, combined with reduced pesticide use and the restoration of field margins in conventional fields, offers a promising pathway to reconcile agricultural production with bird conservation.

Livestock predation by large carnivores is widespread, particularly by the grey wolf (Canis lupus), affecting rural livelihoods and often triggering retaliatory killing that threatens wolf conservation. Understanding the drivers of livestock attacks is essential for identifying conflict hotspots and designing effective prevention strategies. We analyzed wolf depredation in two expansion areas of southwestern Europe with contrasting livestock systems: sheep and cattle. Using officially recorded damage reports from 2016 to 2024, we modeled depredation risk at two spatial scales: municipal (occurrence of damage per municipality per year) and local (individual damage locations), incorporating ecological, topographic, and management variables, including distance to wolf breeding areas, livestock and wild prey density, land-use, and relevant landscape features. Based on models, we generated risk maps at both scales. At municipal scale, sheep livestock system, risk was primarily associated with wolf-preferred habitats, livestock density, and proximity to breeding areas, whereas in cattle livestock system, elevation, water availability, and breeding area proximity were most influential. At local scale, habitat suitability for livestock and closeness to wolf breeding areas consistently predicted predation in both systems. These findings highlight the importance of tailoring conflict-mitigation strategies to local ecological and management contexts, as depredation risk varies even within individual municipalities. Integrating municipal and local scale models provides a robust framework for anticipating high-risk areas in wolf expansion ranges and guiding the implementation of preventive measures adapted to specific livestock systems. Our results offer actionable, scale-dependent insights for improving human–wolf coexistence and informing evidence-based conservation management in expanding large carnivore populations.

Large carnivore populations are recovering across many regions, with grey wolf (Canis lupus) being a prominent example. While its resurgence offers socioecological benefits, it also intensifies conflicts with livestock farmers, particularly in areas undergoing recent recolonization where traditional protection practices have diminished. Understanding local perceptions is therefore essential for designing management strategies that reconcile conservation objectives with rural livelihoods. We assessed human–wolf conflict across the Iberian peninsula at two spatial scales: online survey at the national scale and in-person questionnaires at the regional scale. Nationally, we compared perceptions between areas with (n = 83) and without wolves (n = 42). Regionally, we focused on two wolf expansion zones: High Conflict Area (HCA) in La Rioja (n = 30) and Low Conflict Area (LCA) in Guadalajara (n = 34). We examined perceptions of wildlife damage, preventive measures, species responsible for losses, and attitudes toward coexistence. At the national scale, perceptions were largely homogeneous and mostly independent of wolf presence. In contrast, regional results showed that conflict intensity strongly shaped attitudes. Farmers in HCA reported more wolf-related damage, lower trust in public administration, and stronger demands for better compensation and preventive measures than farmers in LCA. Livestock was consistently perceived as the main contributor to ecosystem balance, whereas wolves ranked lowest. Perceptions of other wildlife species varied with conflict intensity, reflecting nuanced views of their ecological roles. These findings highlight the need for multi-scale management that integrates prevention, compensation, and stakeholder engagement to promote sustainable coexistence and support rural socioeconomic resilience.